Timothy Ernest FREEMAN

In the early hours on September 6, 2008, after an evening of CFL Football, Tim died peacefully at home. Tim packed a lot of living into 53 short years. If Tim was around, you would be assured of good times, great food and no sleep.

Tim had varied careers from a humble beginning of selling shoes at the Winnipeg Hudson’s Bay Company to then managing stereo stores in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. When Tim returned to the West Coast, he totally changed gears and became a private investigator and process server. His P.I. company became very successful and he was renowned for doing difficult services. The Vancouver Sun reported one morning: “Stallone Served Summons for Breakfast”. It was through his P.I. company that he met his partner of 23 years, Linda. Tiring of the hectic pace of Vancouver, Tim and Linda moved to the Comox Valley in the spring of 1994. Tim retired from the P.I. life and spent the first year embracing one of his other joys: slaving in the garden. Even the Stanley Cup Playoffs could not pull him from the dirt. In 1995, Tim decided to pursue his other passion and opened the Valley’s first Sushi Bar. Using a nickname from his P.I. days, he started the RockFish Sushi Bar. For over 10 years Tim “fluffed up” sushi to a whole new level. Throughout Tim’s life he made many lifelong friends.

When Tim was first diagnosed with esophagus cancer 5 years ago, he met the challenge head on and didn’t miss a beat. He would often remark that in his view cancer was highly overrated. In May, 2007, Tim was told he had 3-6 months left. He got home from that appointment, took to the phone and rallied the troops. For the next 3 months, friends and family came from all over to eat, drink, laugh…and not get any sleep. It was a very special time for Tim. That summer and beyond Tim would show up at all his medical appointments wearing his new t-shirt emblazoned with the words “HARD TO KILL”. The medical community had already learned that an appointment with Tim was never boring. He loved to question any doctors or nurses seeing him for the first time: ” Remember, I’m here for the penis reduction, right?”

Tim was very appreciative to all the guys who pitched in and emptied his job jar. A special thank you to Gary and Ronnie who really got the projects going.

Tim’s countless trips to Victoria every 2 weeks for months and months became something which he looked forward to because of the warmth and kindness shown by Ian and Lesley, who graciously opened up their home to visits full of laughter and love.

Tim was always impressed and appreciated all the work done for him by the medical professionals up and down the Island: Dr. Reggler and Dr. Blacklock and all the wonderful nurses and staff in the Comox Valley; Dr. Dewar and Dr. Samphire and the great nurses at the Royal Jubilee Endocscopy Unit; Dr. James and Dr. Juszkiewicz and the fabulous nurses at the Campbell River Endoscopy Unit. Thank you so very much.

The home care nurses were simply great and special thanks to Val, Tammie, Rita, and to Georgia who helped out so much on Tim’s last day. The Comox Valley Hospice Society was a great support too.

No funeral by request. A Garden Celebration of Life and golf game will be held next May around Tim’s birthday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tim’s name to the B.C. Cancer Society.